The Ybor Experience

Last weekend I headed downtown for a bar crawl to raise money for cystic fibrosis. It was an absolutle blast! About 10 of us bought tickets and started with eating lunch together, then hopping around town from bar to bar. It started at 2 and ended at 11, with different drink specials at each place. A free drink here, or a free shot there... and for a good cause! We all wore lanyards that were hole punched once you made it to the next place and ordered your drink or two. There was a certain amount of time we could stay at each spot, and everyone would move on together, for the most part. We started at Green Iguana, went to Gametime, then Centro Cantina, Blue Dog Cafe, Gaspar's Grotto, Coyote Ugly, JJs Cafe, and Double Decker's something or other. Most of my friends had done it before, but it was my first time. I'd definitely do it again though -what a fun day!!

Cab ride there.

The Green Iguana for lunch!
First stop: Gametime... with a picture of our lanyard.

Gaspar's Grotto!

Me, Annmarie, and Cristina *who teaches at my school*

Can't wait for next year!

-Ashley

April Showers Bring Cute Duckies to the Pond!

A few days ago Z and I headed to the pond around our apartment complex with a few pieces of bread in hand. Not too long after we arrived it seemed like every animal around was waiting on us to throw something their way. There were two sets of 4 baby ducks, 3 turtles, 2 dogs, and a partridge in a pear tree! We had a lot of fun.. and so did the pups... They kept scaring them away, but they always came back! Too cute...

Watching, waiting, wanting!

Lua wishing she wasn't attached to a leash...

Mama and babies... and one of the resident turtles! :)

Now every time we go out and walk the pups the ducks follow us around hoping for a little something, something. I love spring!!

-Ashley

A word to the wise!

Just a little word of caution to all of Ashley's followers...I (Zach) was recently cutting a lemon in the kitchen to put on my salmon that I was preparing for dinner when I carelessly cut my finger bad. It wasnt horribly bad but deep enough that I had to seek medical attention. So I have learned my lesson about taking my time and using caution with a large knife. It cost me $199. I am writing this to remind you that an extra few moments in the kitchen to ensure you are practicing safe habits is well worth it. Here is a photo I found online, this is not my finger but it is similar to what mine looked like:

Consider yourselves warned! That is all!

~Zach

Things the make me SMILE!

Every once in awhile I just sort of stop and think of things that are going on or happening in my life and I realize I have a lot to smile about! In no particular order below are things that make me happy.. some pics come from my cell phone, others the web! :) (they are in no particular order)

Drinks with friends...

Sally Hansen Salon Essential Nails in "Girl Flower"

Super easy... super cute.... (the toes - not my ugly feet!) lol.
My puppies. They always melt my heart!
This was at the grandparents.. eating ice cream!

23 days left of school... which means BEACH season soon! Tresemme Dry Shampoo on days where a shampooing isn't 100% needed...

... and I'm just so proud of my hubby and all of his accomplishments! Way to go babe!

-Ashley

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to ALL the moms out there!

I have been so lucky to have a mom who has always been there, through the good and the bad, and has believed in me through every decision and choice I've EVER made! I can only hope that one day I am half the mom she is! I love you MOM and can't thank you enough today.. and EVERY day for all that you have done for me! xo. :)

A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, "where mother is." ~Keith L. Brooks

-Ashley

My Graduate!

I was going to wait until Zach came back with the camera from Georgia, BUT! I just couldn't wait that long so you get a fun preview up there! ;) My wonderful husband is halfway done with his college career and officially has his AA degree! He walked across the stage on Friday afternoon and his wonderful mom was right next to me cheering him on as he shook the hands of those all important ones! :) He is on his way to USF to be a Bull and study secondary education and I couldn't be more proud of him! He had a rough start in school before he joined the Army, but he has figured out his priorities and is on track to graduate with honors if he keeps it up! I love you so much my sweet husband and I'm so proud of ALL! of you accomplishments.

-Ashley

Pretzels... With the screw on top!

This morning I heard Z wake up to take the dogs out and I eventually fell back asleep for a few minutes and when I woke up he was gone... I texted him and asked where he had snuck off to and he told me Publix, the local grocery, and told me to let him know what I wanted... I gave him the list that literally read: "I need coffee creamer, bread, lean cuisines, and a big thing of pretzels with the screw on top...." Well, a few minutes later he calls me asking what pretzels had a picture of the screw on top?! I had to explain that I meant the big barrel of pretzles that you can open and close with the screw. on. top! He's responded with "ohhh the pretzels with a LID!" ... DUH that's what I meant. He said he'd been looking for quite some time for the label that had a screw... hehe! It made me chuckle. Texts are sometimes hard to read, I guess! :)

What I wanted:

At work I like to keep a huge thing of pretzels around for me, my students, and fellow teachers so no one goes hungry! Having the screw on top... aka lid! keeps them fresh so much longer than a bag. Although Publix didn't have the barrel, Z came home with 2 bags I can put into my running low barrel I have on my desk! :) Thanks Z!

-Ashley

The Royal / Trent Wedding

I bet 99% of the people reading this are thinking another post about Will and Kate, but if you're thinking that - you're wrong! :) My brother Justin got MARRIED today in St. Lucia to Melissa ROYAL (hence the Royal wedding!) lol. Anyway, I am so excited for them and can't wait to celebrate this marriage at the end of May when they have their big reception! I grew up always wanting a sister and gained one when I married Zach... Leigh Anne... and now I have ANOTHER one! The more the merrier, right?! :)

I can't wait to get a peek of their wedding photos, but since I don't have those I will just upload some from their engagement session! :)

Congrats and welcome to the family, Melissa! We love you!

-Ashley

Birthday Celebration #2!

Yesterday morning Zach got up and walked the dogs for me (yippee!) and it was taking him awhile so I thought he decided on a long walk, but he walked back in with an Easter basket and a present.... In the bag was Photoshop to edit our pictures with and in the basket was a showerhead, a CD, a Cosmo mag, CANDY!, and Rays gear that I can't wait to wear when the team comes back home! :) After I opened my gifts he left and went to get busy cooking breakfast in the kitchen. Of course he made my favorite - french toast! Mmm. Seriously it's like better than restaurant quality. AMAZING!

After breakfast I showered and got ready to head over to my parent's house for lunch. I was still full, but it was a holiday so eating 3 huge meals by the end of the day was okay! We had ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, potato salad, caesar salad... and TWO yummy desserts. My grandma made a banana pudding for me and my parents bought me a Carvel ice cream cake. It really doesn't get any better than that! Then it was present time! My mom had taken me shopping a few days before, but I got "The Soup Bible" from my grandma which is a huge recipe book with all sorts of soups (yum!) and the Kuerig one cup coffee maker with coffee and cups from my parents! It is a pretty nift gadget that makes coffee, tea, hot cocoa, etc. in under 2 mins with little clean up! I LOVE it and can't wait to use it every morning before work...

Until next year, birthday! :)

-Ashley

Birthday BBQ

On Saturday a group of my friends got together and had a fun pool day! The weather was AMAZING! and the pool water was perfect! We spent the whole afternoon eating, drinking, swimming, and laughing! It was such a fun way to spend my birthday-eve! The boys grilled hotdogs, hamburgers, and even boiled shrimp (which I didn't eat) on the grill! We had tons of chips and cookies too and everyone had a really nice time. I'm finally not a glowing white anymore.. woo hoo! My spring break goal has already been accomplished and it's only day 3/10 off! :) The Lightning played at noon that day, but were winning so much that Z was able to hang-out up until he had to drive home to change for work!

I love my friends and everything they do for me! :) Thanksssss!!!

Some of the spread...

Some of the gang! :)
Love these girls!

Z's burgers are AMAZING!!!

-Ashley

Happy Easter!

Today is the first time in my whole life that Easter landed ON my birthday. It was close a few times and we'd do Easter egg hunts at my birthday parties when I was little, but I today was a first! I hope everyone got a chance to spend time with family and have a nice, relaxing weekend! Happy Easter everyone!

-Ashley

Quarter of a Century!

If you ask Wikipedia what 25 is they will tell you "25 (twenty-five) is the natural number following 24 and preceding 26". It is also the age I turn today. Holy moly! I'm officially in my "mid-20s". Siiigh. Halfway to fifty!? I think I'll go get my walker now because I'm 1/3 of 75! Haha. Only kidding. I always make my birthday a more than one day celebration. Friday my mom took me shopping... yesterday my friends threw me a birthday barbeque out by the pool. Let me just say the weather was AMAZING and the water temp. was PERFECT! After we went to the arena football game Z was working and got "hooked up" with free food and drinks. Today is Easter and my parents are having the family over for a late lunch to celebrate both holidays! :) I will post fun pics of the barbecue/party soon!

-Ashley

New Title in 2011-2012

Today my principal called in teachers to her office to let them know they'd be moving grades due to student numbers. 4th grade was losing a unit due to 3rd grade being so small this year, which meant she decided I'd be one of the 2 that would have to go to another grade. I had no idea what she was going to say.. and I was shocked when she said it.. but starting in August I will no longer be a 4th grade teacher but a ....

I'm pretty nervous. Their main focus is Science, which is my least favorite subject, but she promised me I'd have help, a great team to work with, and that I'd be just fine! I'm just thankful I have a job at the same school! Here's to "passing" 4th grade and going on to try to be smarter than a 5th grader!

-Ashley

Saturday Night Date Night!

Last Saturday night Zach and I decided... well, I decided, that we'd go out and have a date night - just the two of us! We thought about a movie, or the beach, or dinner, but we decided to go play putt putt golf! It had been years since we had gone and I'm pretty sure the last time we went he beat me by one. This time, however, I WON by one! :) It was a great feeling... lol. We had a good time together and before we left he stopped by the batting cages and took a few swings in the slow pitch and fast pitch cage.

-Ashley